It is virtually impossible to find an individual who has a plain sailing journey from the cradle to the grave. You might hear distorted claims of the above said at a specific eulogy, but did it genuinely fit the narrative? Probably the less savory elements in a lifespan have been deleted!

Trials, testings and tribulations have smitten all of humanity; no one has truly ever been immune – the outcome of our innate Fallen Nature has made this inevitable. Trajectories in a life journey have been altered; oftentimes, we hear of a personal tragedy having severe repercussions, not just on the recipients but also on those they cross paths with. Conversely speaking, coming out of an unwarranted challenge can be a watershed event for quite a substantial group of people. A turnaround in a positive sense of the word can be a springboard to an uptrend in some life journeys – more so an inspiration to many onlookers who could get more than a shot in the arm from such realities. Or is it just a half-truth?

The Living Word has no space for any half-truths as far as trials, testings and tribulations are concerned. The genuine, unadulterated truth on this topic is spelled out in John 16:33. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have Tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Herein sits an interesting question. There are those who battle on with the struggles of living on this increasingly difficult planet – they may have had their victories, but are they genuinely happy folks?

It is dead easy to put up a convincing show for the media spotlight, but these can be a misleading and thin veneer that hides the real deal. But for those who dwell in the Living Word, the good cheer is like that which comes naturally. More than that! The Holy Spirit enables the believer in Christ to have hope regardless of the situation, and this is the spiritual empowerment that overcomes earthly obstacles. This unique arrangement is only available to believers who walk the talk – only those who put everything in the infallibility of the Word of God!

All of us going through these darkening days need to be of good cheer; we have the infinite Prince of Peace on our side. We can smile at numerous stormy episodes because we know that He will not leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). There could even be extraordinary testings that almost put us to the end of the tether. Take heart! Do not let your mind run wild about what happens should you cave in. Focus on the Lord, on what He can do that is beyond our comprehension. He knows our limitations and our innate fallacies.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

All of us are part and parcel of the Bride of Christ. Will the loving Heavenly Father allow the pure and chaste eternal partner of His Son to be badly bruised by the evil that is widespread across the globe? Definitely not! He will sustain us and enable us through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He has done His part, but we have to do our bit. We have to call on Him and not fall back on our weakness in any dire situation. Surely, He will deliver us and not leave us to fend for ourselves!

Maranatha

Edwin

Contact me at edwinuk13@gmail.com

“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them” (Psalm 139:16, NKJV).

God sees all of our lives like we would read a timeline of an important person. However, God sees everything, just not the summary notes. He knows every step we step, every breath we take, every thought we have, and every action we perform. He knew all of this before there were none of them. God knows everything there is to know. He knows all of the past, present and future. He is also in total control of everything. There is not one thing that happens that he does not allow to happen. God sees what man would call the end and sees what is going to happen for that end to come about. He sees the end being worth all the good and bad that happens. To personalize this, he saw everything that you have done or ever will do, and he allowed you to be born into this world.

Think about that; he saw the very worst of you and continues to allow you to breathe. Now, if God thinks it’s worth you breathing, maybe you can take some encouragement from that. Something about you is worth God allowing you to breathe right now.

“The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33:4, NKJV).

The correct people are in charge at any given time. So, whatever they are doing, God is still in charge. So take heart.

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 13:1, NKJV).

The “end of this world” will only happen according to Him, not by what the global warming alarmists think or by men. That also means no nuclear annihilation.

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (Revelation 21:1, NKJV).

God sees everything that has or ever will happen as a fait accompli, meaning it’s all already accomplished and irreversible. This might sound like a funny idea, but let’s remember that the Christian’s ultimate destiny or horizon has been fixed by God from all eternity.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30, NKJV)

If you continue reading a bit more, you will see the question, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” That question should make us all feel safe and secure. We already know God wins in the end. Him winning is another one of those fait accompli things.